Salem's Artists' Row Kicks Off Season With Public Launch Party Next Weekend

SALEM, MA — Salem's downtown public gallery, marketplace and pedestrian walkway known as Artists' Row will kick off the outdoor season with a Market Day Launch Party on May 6.

The daylong event begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m. on New Derby Street and is set to include a chance to meet the featured artists, hands-free art-making activities, workshops, live music, food and shopping.

Among those in the revolving stalls to start the season are pop culture shop Shindig! Studios, art studio and gallery ChagallPAC, and studio newcomers Robbersdaughter and Melon Rose.

ChagallPAC will showcase free performances outside of their space with Nada Brahma Kirtan at 1 p,m. and cellist Gil Selinger at 6 p.m.

Robbersdaughter will be offering botanical installations and immersive event designs, while Melon Rose offers distinctive and creative floral services.

This year's Public Artist in Residence is Claudia Paraschiv, who will create the Tree of Care + Wonder, a large-scale tree sculpture featuring migrant stories and a canopy designed to "transform the streets of Salem into community spaces of art and friendship."

Throughout the spring and summer, poets, musicians, dancers and actors will collaborate to produce civic art events around the themes of migration stories, food memories, local history and "novel visions about how of a future city might take care of and bring wonder to its residents."

Paraschiv will be offering free events and workshops that are accessible to people of all abilities from May to September.

Artists' Row will also include The Lobster Shanty, the Row's very own bar and food spot.

There is also a public restroom.

The Artists' Row Initiative is a seasonal program run by Salem's Office of Arts & Culture providing space for artists and artisans looking to build their audience and/or business through daily engagement with residents and visitors to Salem.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)